JC man guilty in 2016 robbery

JC man guilty in 2016 robbery

A Jefferson City man has been found guilty of involvement in an October 2016 robbery.

Robert Scott, 20, is charged with one count of first-degree robbery. Cole County Presiding Judge Pat Joyce found Scott guilty following a bench trial Thursday.

In March, a Cole County jury found the second suspect in this case, Kane Carpenter, 18, guilty of one count of first-degree robbery. Sentencing for Carpenter and Scott is scheduled in April before Joyce.

The robbery occurred in the area of Capitol Avenue and Lafayette Street in Jefferson City, according to police reports.

The victim said he was walking in the area when he was approached by two men who asked to use his cellphone. When he refused, one of the suspects threatened the victim and implied he had a gun, demanding his possessions. The victim handed the suspects his iPhone and electronic cigarette, and the suspects fled the area.

Responding officers contacted the victim, who provided a description of both suspects. Other officers canvassed the area and located Carpenter and Scott, who matched the suspect descriptions, a short distance away at Cherry Street and Commercial Way. Both men were identified as the suspects and were taken into custody, and the stolen iPhone was recovered. No weapon was found on or near the suspects. The victim was not harmed during the robbery.

At his sentencing in April, the court will take up the matter of a December charge of resisting arrest against Scott.

Scott was a passenger in a vehicle stopped in the 100 block of West Tanner Way, according to a Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement.

Scott had three outstanding warrants for his arrest at the time; and as officers tried to handcuff him as he exited the vehicle, Scott attempted to run away. An officer was able to get control of Scott and took him into custody.

Authorities said Scott is known to associate with gang members and was on a pre-trial release program from Cole County at the time of this arrest.

At his sentencing in April, the court will take up the matter of another robbery case Carpenter is charged in. In February 2017, Carpenter was charged with three counts of first-degree robbery, three counts of armed criminal action and one count of possession of a controlled substance for allegedly robbing four people in a car during a drug transaction. He had been in a pre-trial release program prior to this robbery.